Purple
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/15/03
Posts: 233
Loc: Midwest
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I am wondering if anyone here has told their PCP/MD about their usage of OP's and if so, what was the reaction?
I almost told my PCP today but did not for fear of being "red flagged".
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sweat
Old Hand
Reged: 12/23/01
Posts: 491
Loc: NJ
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That would be like tellin the cops you just ran 2 red lights after they pulled you over for not wearing a seatbelt. Not a good idea...
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Tiger47
Member
Reged: 08/23/03
Posts: 102
Loc: Georgia
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I told my doctor after he wrote a script for darvocet after having laproscotic surgery on my jaw. It didn't even faze him, he didn't care. He told me NO NARCOTICS up front. So I told him YEA thats the reason we that are in pain have to resort to using OP's. Because sinceless doctors like you only care about the money not patient care. Maybe I souldn't pay you until you finish your job by treating my pain. I shouldn't have to pay for services that I was not satisfied with. He just said You'll have to get your pain meds from someone else. I thought he would have gone though the roof because he doesn't believe in narcotics, but I think he knew I didn't give a Best if kept off the board about his opinions and was going to get something for the pain.
tiger47
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D2003
Member
Reged: 12/12/03
Posts: 193
Loc: Texas
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I was upfront with my PCP and told her I was using an OP. As she is yet another 'won't prescribe pain meds' doctor, she wasn't fazed when I told her the truth. Even told her exactly which service I use and where they are roughly located. She realizes that I have legitimate pain issues, and after hearing my opinion of medical care in this country, (third rate at best), she pretty much realized I am going to use any resource at my disposal to get the right kind of treatment for my pain. I did make it clear it is an records required OP, and she had a copy of those exact same records in her hand, she really couldn't say anything to me about using an OP.
Most other doctors would probably flip out, but I had gauged this one correctly, so it wasn't a problem. Even if it had been, then I just change doctors. Having no health insurance gives me a lot of freedom to find the type of doctors I can deal with. On the downside, this entire state is positively allergic to prescribing pain meds.
D2003
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Tred
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/18/03
Posts: 262
Loc: USA
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lol that's too funny.!.
But to answer the original posters question: No I've never told my PCP about my OP experiences. I have however, discussed the hypothetical idea to my PCP about using OP's for narcotic pain relief. My response from him was "OP's that have real doctors based in the US and require full medical reports and/or online consultations/ port-o-medic's, seem to help people that cannot get adiquite pain relief. My only concern is that my patients would be getting outside treatment, other than my own and that could cause problems with medication interactions."
So all in all I think he didn't mind their presence being here, but he did stress the dangers in medications interacting with each other that he might not know about.
I probably wouldn't be a good idea to discuss OP's with your PCP, just for the fact that they would definitely question your intentions with outside medical practices and may think you are overstepping their advise and may take it to heart.
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Entertainment Specialist!
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Opie_Yates
Old Hand
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 471
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Quote:
I am wondering if anyone here has told their PCP/MD about their usage of OP's and if so, what was the reaction?
I almost told my PCP today but did not for fear of being "red flagged".
NO!
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I'm not a doctor, I just play one on a message forum!
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Purple
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/15/03
Posts: 233
Loc: Midwest
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Thanks everyone for your replies, makes me feel like I did the right thing. I am trying to use my PCP/Neuro for treatment but they haven't done nothing to help me. He did give me a measly #30ct Norco which we all know won't go far.
Why are PCP's/MD's fearful of rx'ing more amounts? I just dont get it. I can go thru an OP using the same records my PCP/Neuro and get #120ct but cant get anything from them. I have a $9 copay so it doesn't matter if they rx'd 10 or 120, I still have to pay the $9 and the doc get's paid each time I go to see him, I am on HMO which stinks cause I have to follow their rules which I do but I am still undertreated which I have expressed to both doctors.
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Purple
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/15/03
Posts: 233
Loc: Midwest
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One more thing I forgot to say in the last post was that I got a bill from my PCP in error saying I had not paid my co-pay and the charge just to see the PCP was $135!! I can pay an OP doc $120 consult and get #120 ct for 3 months but can't get anything from my PCP but a measly #30ct.
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curious
Member
Reged: 03/14/03
Posts: 182
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I've often wondered if our insurance companies have anything to do with the meds we are prescribed and the amounts. Or if your doc only gave you 30 Norcos, then you may have to come back sooner to get more thus more money for an another visit. I remember having one insurance (can't recall the co. right now,it was many moons ago and I've had many diff. ins. cos.) that actually had medications listed in the book that listed the doctors that were covered under the "plan". I didn't know why these meds were listed in this book but remember thinking that maybe these were the only meds that the PCPs were allowed to prescribe if you had that insurance. I also remember not seeing too many controlled meds, no opiates whatsoever and just a few anxiety meds. I thought that was rather interesting. I think it was Omnicare or some small co. like that. But I really do wonder if the doc not only has to answer to the DEA but also the insurance companies that they are contracted to, I know they do when it comes to referring you to specialists depending on what kind of insurance you have. If you think about it it kind of makes sense seeing as OPs can presribe 120 but do not accept insurance (but they do have to answer to the DEA) and our PCPs barely give us enough to get through a week or 2 depending on our condition. Maybe we have member who works for a med. insurance company that could answer that question or check into it. Maybe I'm way out there but I've often wondered about it.
Just my thoughts,
Curious
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carrigaline
Journeyman
Reged: 01/22/03
Posts: 82
Loc: So Cal
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Not just "No," but heck no!!!
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karib
Member
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 107
Loc: new england
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i told my primary what i thought of him after he refused ggiving me any narcotics for a chronic pain problem which he told me was so bad i had to go to an out of state top of the line facility for a specialist! He told me aabout self control and meditation and i lost it! i told him i have a great dr. online! He said he had given me 15 hydros, two months ago and i should still have some left and even accused me of perhaps selling them!!!! i wanted to punch him in the face. I came back two days later for my records.
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Toberlone
Stranger
Reged: 02/12/04
Posts: 13
Loc: outside its America
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I did. I started seeing a new PM doc, and decided that I was gonna take the high road to honesty. When we were going over my meds I was taking, the doctor seemed to be done. I said, ahem the vicodin, my old doctor was not prescribing that one. He asked me who was, I said that I was using OP's for vicodin. He asked me how much it cost, I told him. He said he had heard that it had cost as much as 350...hmm.
Anyway, he is still treating me, and compassionately. So, it can be the right thing to do. I wasn't the first to tell him obviously, and probably won't be the last. Hopefully, he will be a doctor for a long time.
I know each person would need to gauge their doctor, and probably wouldn't be best to try this with their PCP, or you might find yourself fired.
Edit~Trust me when I say, I have been seen, and been mistreated, undertreated by many doctors, ignored, undertested. Not tested. Bamboozled. Lied to. Geez what else?
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Baseball is like church, many go, but few understand. Unknown(to me)
Edited by Toberlone (02/17/04 10:40 PM)
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Daycamp72
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 283
Loc: Tara
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No way. I feel it's a red flag that says ABUSER or ADDICT. Now, I'm being conservative here; myself neither being an abuser nor addict, but some things are better left unsaid.
I happen to know from personal experience, however, that the insurance companies do NOT control what my PM doc prescribes. To the contrary. I cannot get insurance approval for the number of anti-inflamatory drugs I'm prescribed by my PM. It's a relatively new drug and it's the only one that works for me. He has had countless correspondence with them and they say no. Who has the authority here?
My not telling him about OPs is just my personal "feel" about him and I'll bet I'm right. Mum's the word.
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Firefairy
Member
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 147
Loc: Mississippi
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It was my doctor's idea in the first place. He has advised a lot of CP non cancer patients to do so if it is within their means. He has a good many medicaid/medicare patients and I have heard a rumor he has found ways for them to afford it.
If I told the interns that man the emergency room here they would probably freak. I will have a migraine, blood pressure 180 over 120, and they will say "you are going to have to learn to work through this, just concentrate on your breathing". I wanted to smack the nurses who said that during childbirth, I won't mention what I say when they tell me that during a migraine.
As far as the insurance goes, our insurance before this one had a booklet with "approved" meds, if it was not on the list they would not cover it.
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tone
Veteran
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 531
Loc: Chicago
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Quote:
No way. I feel it's a red flag that says ABUSER or ADDICT.
thats absurd...absurd that someone would even have to fear such a stigma, but they do. Lets take a look at a couple facts:
1) opioids are completely safe drugs that have retardation of bowel movements as their only common side effect.
2) opioids usually have withdrawl when they are stopped. (so what, paxil has horid withdrawl too)
Thats all, how someone would take these facts about opioids and demonize them is beyond me and has no logical basis. infact our culture demonizing opioids for no logical reason sort of looks like how some middle eastern cultures treat their women a certain way for no logical reason, or how the chruch uses a fallacy called nature law ethics to say strange illogical things about the way people should be.
lately, our leaders have been using problem-reaction-solution tactics and phoney terrorism to pass new laws and minipulate the public, but in the long shot freedom prevails. just like how in the past it was unacceptable to act a certain way that it is acceptable now, it will also become acceptable to use synthetic drugs to ease pain and suffering, even if they do have positive mental effects...because it is logic-ethically sound and not what someone things in their head and becomes a 'norm'.
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lemongrass
Board Addict
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 361
Loc: IL
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Well, I considered telling my GP that I was using OP's but opted not to. I was wondering if they could possibly report you for such usage. But no doubt for many it would be futile to report it to their doctors.
I guess it's a personal choice, as it sounds like some of you have successfully chose to tell and did not receive any sort of lecture or reprimanding from your doc.
I am hoping that I won't have to use OP's any longer once I get my medical assessments and diagnosis all clear. Would be nice to simply pay the co-pay. Somehow, I believe this is wishful thinking as doctors simply don't wish to prescribe narcotics these days.
lemongrass
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Sky_Queen
Fly Girl
Reged: 12/03/02
Posts: 1962
Loc: Texas
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No Purple, I have not told my PCP but I sure was tempted. However - my chiropractor is the one who first told me what was available on line...........
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gottadoit
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/21/03
Posts: 269
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I would never consider telling my PCP this. He is a great doc, very compassionate, but he would completely lose it if he heard anything about this. He thinks chiropractors are dangerous quacks - I can only imagine his reaction to hearing about a doctor who prescribes narcotics without "knowing the patient". It would NOT be pretty!
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Toberlone
Stranger
Reged: 02/12/04
Posts: 13
Loc: outside its America
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See? Some of us don't even want to say we see other speciality doctors, ie chiropractors. So whats the difference?
I think what we are trying to say is, we want legitimacy with our MD/PCP, and if we are honest, perhaps they will see things our way...and maybe understand that we are truly in pain, and start prescribing, so we won't have to use OP's. Or the other side, they may be relieved that they are not the ones prescribing, and not care an iota.
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Baseball is like church, many go, but few understand. Unknown(to me)
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dewie
Stranger
Reged: 12/06/03
Posts: 2
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I would not even chance it. I use an HMO and it is a fight to get any helpful pain meds from them. Motrin seems to be their wonder drug and they have no problem giving you as much as you want. But ask for codiene or hydro and they look at you like you are a druggie. I have gotten script for codiene form them but low dose and low count. So I order the same one line. If I told them I went online I bet my records would be flagged as a drug addict.
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kittie74
Board Addict
Reged: 02/16/04
Posts: 310
Loc: Hollywood
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That's true - they always want to give you Motrin. Motrin doesn't do anything for me. I have herniated disks, lower back pain and get terrible migriane headaches. I just had a disk replaced in my neck and it's helped a bit with the headaches. But I am still in pain all the time. I guess I've learned to live with it. I am sick of 'living with it'! If there is something out there that could lessen the pain, why wouldn't I try that? I am so tired of this country's puritanical attitude about pain. We're supposed to 'be tough' and 'handle it'? This is said by people who don't know what real pain is.
Last week, i went for a follow-up visit to a doctor i had seen for headaches. He didn't want to give me anything for pain. I told him when i get the headcahes it's the worst pain in the world. I call it 'The Hat Of Pain'. He only wanted to give me migraine medication. He said vicodin can cause an addiction. Come on! I know that - but what am i supposed to do? Suffer and be in pain because of your opinion on it? He also said it can cause rebound headaches. I also know about this! But guess what? I've never had that happen. So you won't give me a pain medication because of something that HASN'T happened to me? That doesn't make any sense. I could see if i'd been having that problem, but I haven't.
Sorry for the Saturday morning rant. But I guess I'm feeling angry about all this today. It's a rainy/gloomy weekend out here in L.A. and the weather makes me more achy. Thank god i found this website and the OPs.
Edited by kittie74 (02/21/04 12:31 PM)
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ML63
Member
Reged: 02/08/03
Posts: 185
Loc: Upstate New York
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A good friend of mine who works for the company who carries my health insurance advised me to never let my doctor know about my using an OP. It would open way too many cans of worms. With malpractice liability the way it is these days, my doctor would probably drop me immediately rather than take any chances. What self respecting doctor cares to deal with a patient who doesn't listen to his advice? After all, the reason I went to an OP was because I ignored my PCP's wishes and sought out the very medication he said no to. Isn't that the situation that about 99% of us are in? Patients who don't follow their doctors advice, especially medication wise, are looked upon as risk takers and my insurance would most likely end up canceled as well. That's why I have to laugh at these new OP's who'll contact your doctor to see if it's OK for them to circumvent his orders while they overcharge you for the medication!
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elleonheels
Stranger
Reged: 02/16/04
Posts: 21
Loc: Texas
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Prior to giving up my traditional job, my PCP was one of the anomalies who actually listened and prescribed what I needed. When my insurance company would not cover one of the meds he wanted me to take, he actually fought for me. Sadly, he lost the battle, but he did try.
Before losing my insurance, I made an appointment to get in one last visit and we had a candid discussion about insurance companies and OPs. He was actually pretty understanding and only asked that I please return on a regular basis for routine checkups/bloodwork and such.
He's a rare breed, though. I can walk in with pages printed from sites like WebMD or articles about alternative treatments. We discuss my condition, he treats me like an informed adult and his ego remains (gasp) unbruised.
I am in my early 40s and sad to say I've only had two doctors who were open to such frank discussion. Had he been the typical physician, I would've never told him.
Another plus, he's an older gent, as are his patients. It's nice walking in his office and being the youngest one in the room. 
Elle
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"Never doubt that a group of citizens can change the world."
Margaret Mead
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